Generic GPS Cable (Nikon MC-35 equivalent)

[c_jit]

A freind recently asked me to test this for him so I think I might as well post it here.

The package consists of;
1. Generic GPS interface Cable (Nikon MC-35 equivalent)
2. Serial cable to connect to your specific GPS model (mine is Garmin 76cx)
3. Optional wired remote cable release



A close comparison to a genuine article Nikon 10 pin plug
GND has only 6 pins, whereas the Nikon has 10 pins.
The Nikon 10 pin plug has metal ring thread and ring for environmetal seal.
The Generic (GND) is a push in type but it fit in snugly without any difficulty.




After plugging in, the cable orientation is an exact match to Nikon.




The Optional wired remote cable release seen next to a S.dollar coin (apprx.)
It is a double stage affair ie. 1st press activate metering and focus, 2nd press taking photo.
The press feel is a bit mushy like a Glock, not crisp and clean like my colt gold cup 1911A1. But plenty acceptable by me.




The other end plug into my Garmin Foretrex 101 via a 2.5mm. mini stereo plug.

[c_jit]

The complete set up, ready to plug into any D2 series or D200.




However, I find the cable too long to my liking, so I fabricated a shortening version one from a motorola talkabout head phone cable which also using the same 2.5mm stereo plug.




My new set up with a shorten GPS cable.




On the camera.....(some more work needed with velcro tape)




Or on the camera strap (still need tidying up)

[c_jit]

Testing Time
Open the JPEG image in Nikonview 6.2.7 show the position and altitude.




Open the NEF image in Nikonview 6.2.7 also show the same...




Direct link to Google Earth Image (via opanda GPS exif link)
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=N13.72...,0.0&t=h&hl=en



All in all, it works GREAT!!
seen here connecting to my Garmin GPSMAP76cx and completely indoor in the store.




This is the place that he got it from :
http://www.pc-mobile.net/nikongps.htm

Cheers,

[Artosoft]

Nice...

Thanks for sharing.

Regards,
Arto.

[jeanie]

what's the purpose of linking a gps unit to the camera?

is it for data information purpose as to record where exactly the shot was taken?
what good does this information serve?

[c_jit]

Originally Posted by jeanie what's the purpose of linking a gps unit to the camera? is it for data information purpose as to record where exactly the shot was taken? what good does this information serve?

My main use is for aerial photography for environmental record and coastal pollution control and also to assist law enforecement such as forensic science.
A friend of mine is an acheologist (sp?) he used it for marking the outline of a ruin or a historical ground.
I recently recommend a set up to a freind in forestry for wild animals (elephants) migration route for WWF study.

I am now thinking of a offer a contract services to road, rail or utility construction company to offer this services too.


I willing to bet there is at least one thousand and one uses for it that I do not know of.

Cheers,

[jeanie]

Originally Posted by c_jit My main use is for aerial photography for environmental record and coastal pollution control and also to assist law enforecement such as forensic science. A friend of mine is an acheologist (sp?) he used it for marking the outline of a ruin or a historical ground. I recently recommend a set up to a freind in forestry for wild animals (elephants) migration route for WWF study. I am now thinking of a offer a contract services to road, rail or utility construction company to offer this services too. I willing to bet there is at least one thousand and one uses for it that I do not know of. Cheers,

very very very cool job you and your friend got.

[szhoe]

Originally Posted by c_jit My main use is for aerial photography for environmental record and coastal pollution control and also to assist law enforecement such as forensic science. A friend of mine is an acheologist (sp?) he used it for marking the outline of a ruin or a historical ground. I recently recommend a set up to a freind in forestry for wild animals (elephants) migration route for WWF study. I am now thinking of a offer a contract services to road, rail or utility construction company to offer this services too. I willing to bet there is at least one thousand and one uses for it that I do not know of. Cheers,

Any chance if your friend is doing archaeology work in BC, Canada..We have recently flown from India & Thailand several archaeologists for an Integrated Programme..

[xtemujin]

Geotagging photos is gaining ground around the world as you can locate where you have taken those photos like when you are on holiday in Europe.

Unfortunately here in Singapore, it is still not that popular now. I do hope that more people will take up this useful feature.

This setup is still like a homebrew kit and I do hope that Nikon will wake up and embed a GPS chipset in their DSLR like the Ricoh 500SE.

http://www.ricohsolutions.com/geo/pd...E_brochure.pdf

Another option is the Jelbert GeoTagger and I also see it as a homebrew kit but more expensive and bigger. The idea is there, using your camera flash hotshoe to trigger the saving of the GPS coordinates.

http://www.geotagger.co.uk/geotagger_website/index.html

Originally Posted by jeanie what's the purpose of linking a gps unit to the camera? is it for data information purpose as to record where exactly the shot was taken? what good does this information serve?

[blive]

That's because Singapore is densely populated with concrete jungle and is very small. GPS is not very useful in Singapore, as we tend to be indoors or under shelter most of the time...

[huggable]

Is this a D2x you've got? Was trying to gather info, and realised that the D2H does not support GPS as there is no provision for GPS on the main LCD display. Can anyone verify?

Originally Posted by c_jit The complete set up, ready to plug into any D2 series or D200.

[tankahn]

I got my D300 tethered to Garmin GPS. This could be an overkill. With that set up, you cannot use the cable release. Also the hotshoe cannot be used with a flash unit if the GPS is already mounted on top. Software solutions already exist which will synchronize GPS track logs and write it to the exif file. http://www.carto.net/projects/photoTools/gpsPhoto/

[lsisaxon]

Originally Posted by blive That's because Singapore is densely populated with concrete jungle and is very small. GPS is not very useful in Singapore, as we tend to be indoors or under shelter most of the time...

I thought so too... until I started driving..